Patent application title: Method and Device For File Viewing Using A Mobile Device

Abstract:

A method including loading a data file into a memory of a mobile computing
device, displaying a portion of the data file on a display of the mobile
computing device, detecting user motion data corresponding to a motion of
the mobile computing device by a user, the motion being indicative of the
user's desire to view a further portion of the data file, and displaying
the further portion of the data file on the display as a function of the
user motion data.

Claims:

1. A method, comprising:loading a data file into a memory of a mobile
computing device;displaying a portion of the data file on a display of
the mobile computing device;detecting user motion data corresponding to a
motion of the mobile computing device by a user, the motion being
indicative of the user's desire to view a further portion of the data
file; anddisplaying the further portion of the data file on the display
as a function of the user motion data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device includes at
least one of a mobile phone, a barcode scanner, a personal digital
assistant, a portable multimedia player and a palmtop computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data file includes at least one of
an image, a text document, a spreadsheet and a web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user motion data is detected by a
motion sensor of the mobile computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the user motion
data includes the sub-step of:receiving a user's indication data prior to
detecting the user motion data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user's indication data is one of A)
pressing and holding a button and B) pressing and releasing a button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the further
portion of the data file includes one or more of panning, zooming and
rotating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:if the further portion of the
data file includes an edge of the data file, generating a corresponding
alert to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the corresponding alert
comprises:vibrating at least a portion of the mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the portion of the mobile computing
device that is vibrated is an input arrangement of the mobile computing
device.

11. A mobile computing device, comprising:a memory storing a data file;a
display displaying a portion of the data file; anda motion detection
sensor sensing user motion data corresponding to a motion of the mobile
computing device by a user, the motion being indicative of the user's
desire to view a further portion of the data file,wherein, when the
motion detection sensor detects the user motion data, the display
displays the further portion of the data file as a function of the user
motion data.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein the mobile computing
device is one of a mobile phone, a barcode scanner, a personal digital
assistant, a portable multimedia player and a palmtop computer.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein the data file is one
of an image, a text document, a spreadsheet and a web page.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device
further comprises an input arrangement, the input arrangement receiving a
user input, the user input engaging and disengaging the sensing of user
motion data and the display of a further portion of the file as a
function of the user motion data.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein the input arrangement
is a button.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the user input is one
of A) pressing and holding the button and B) pressing and releasing the
button.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein displaying the
further portion of the data file includes one of panning, zooming and
rotating.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 11, further comprising a feedback
arrangement alerting the user if the further portion of the data file
includes an edge of the data file.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 18, wherein the feedback
arrangement vibrates at least a portion of the mobile computing device if
the further portion of the file includes an edge of the data file.

20. A mobile computing system, comprising:storage means for storing a data
file;display means for displaying a first portion of the data file;motion
sensing means for sensing a motion of the mobile computing system by a
user, the motion corresponding to the user's desire to view a second
portion of the data file on the display means; anddisplay manipulation
means for displaying, using the display means, the second portion of the
data file as a function of the motion of the mobile computing system.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001]As the capabilities of mobile computing devices increase, such
devices may be used to obtain and display large amounts of information.
This may include information that is displayed graphically, such as maps,
schematics, other images, web pages, spreadsheets, or other types of
graphically displayed information. Existing methods for panning the
display of such graphical information may require the use of both of a
user's hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention is directed to a method comprising loading a
data file into a memory of a mobile computing device, displaying a
portion of the data file on a display of the mobile computing device,
detecting user motion data corresponding to a motion of the mobile
computing device by a user, the motion being indicative of the user's
desire to view a further portion of the data file, and displaying the
further portion of the data file on the display as a function of the user
motion data.

[0003]The present invention is further directed to a mobile computing
device comprising a memory storing a data file, a display displaying a
portion of the data file, and a motion detection sensor sensing user
motion data corresponding to a motion of the mobile computing device by a
user. The motion is indicative of the user's desire to view a further
portion of the data file. When the motion detection sensor detects the
user motion data, the display displays the further portion of the data
file as a function of the user motion data.

[0004]The present invention is further directed to a mobile computing
system comprising storage means for storing a data file, display means
for displaying a first portion of the data file, motion sensing means for
sensing a motion of the mobile computing system by a user, the motion
corresponding to the user's desire to view a second portion of the data
file on the display means, and display manipulation means for displaying,
using the display means, the second portion of the data file as a
function of the motion of the mobile computing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1A shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile computing device
according to the present invention for manipulating the display of a data
file according to the exemplary method of FIG. 3.

[0006]FIG. 1B shows a schematic view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG.
1A of a mobile computing device according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the data file according to
the present invention displayed by the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0008]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary method for manipulating the display of the
exemplary data file of FIG. 2 on the mobile device of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0009]FIG. 4A shows an exemplary initial view of the data file of FIG. 2
as shown on a display of the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B at a first point
during the execution of the exemplary method of FIG. 3.

[0010]FIG. 4B shows an exemplary final view of the data file of FIG. 2 as
shown on a display of the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B at a second point
during the execution of the exemplary method of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further
understood with reference to the following description and the appended
drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference
numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe devices and methods for
enabling a user to more easily manipulate data displayed by a mobile
computing device. In the exemplary embodiments, a user may define an
anchor point and subsequently manipulate the display of a data file with
relation to that anchor point by physically moving the mobile device.

[0012]FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary mobile computing device 100
according to the present invention. FIG. 1A illustrates an external view
of the exemplary device 100, while FIG. 1B provides a schematic view of
the same device 100. The device 100 may be, for example, a palmtop
computer, personal digital assistant ("PDA"), mobile phone, scanner,
imager, multimedia player, or any other device capable of displaying the
data file of FIG. 2 and performing the method of FIG. 3. The device 100
includes a display 110 and a user interface 120. In other embodiments,
the user interface may 120 be integrated into the display 110, such as an
on-screen keyboard. The device 100 also includes a memory 130 and a
processor 140, which are shown schematically in FIG. 1B. The memory 130
may store an operating system, software, data files, etc., as known in
the art. The memory 130 may include a long-term storage (e.g., a hard
drive, a flash memory, etc.) and/or a short-term storage (e.g., random
access memory).

[0013]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary data file 200. The data file 200 may
be stored in the memory 130 of the device 100; alternately, the data file
200 may be stored remotely and accessed by a communications interface of
the device 100 (e.g., a Bluetooth connection, a WiFi connection, a
cellular connection, etc.). The data file 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a
picture of a house; however, the principles of the present invention may
be equally applicable to other data files that a user may wish to display
at a scale such that the entire data file cannot be simultaneously viewed
on the display 110. The data file 200 may include a plurality of features
210, 220, 230 and 240. In the exemplary data file 200 shown in FIG. 2,
feature 210 is a chimney, feature 220 is a roof, feature 230 is a window
and feature 240 is a garage; however, those of skill in the art will
understand that this is only exemplary and that in other embodiments
other features may be possible, that photographic representations (e.g.,
satellite photographs) may be used rather than the symbolic
representations of FIG. 2, and that other types of features may be
present if the data file 200 is a different type of data file (e.g., the
features may be groups of cells if the data file 200 is a spreadsheet,
segments of text if the data file 200 is a text document, buildings if
the data file 200 is a map, etc.).

[0014]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method 300 according
to the present invention by which a user of the device 100 may manipulate
the display of the exemplary data file 200 of FIG. 2. In step 310, the
data file 200 is loaded into the memory 130 of the device 100. This may
involve loading the data file 200 into an already active application,
initiating a software application appropriate to the nature of the data
file 200 and loading the data file 200 from the memory 130, switching an
application including the data file 200 from a background status to a
foreground status, etc. Those of skill in the art will understand that
there are many such methods and that the method by which the data file
200 is loaded may typically depend on the nature of the data file 200.

[0015]In step 320, an initial view of the data file 200 is established.
The initial view may be a default view (e.g., a centered view of a map,
the top left of a text document, etc.) or may be established by standard
method of modifying the view of a data file 200 (e.g., navigation using
arrow keys, click and drag panning, etc.). FIG. 4A illustrates the device
100 showing an exemplary initial view 400 of the data file 200. As will
be apparent, the initial view 400 represents a view of the lower-left
portion of the data file 200 including feature 230. In step 330, the
initial view of the data file 200 is displayed on the display 110.

[0016]In step 340, the user of the device 100 initiates the display
manipulation process. This may be accomplished by a dedicated input
arrangement (e.g., pushing a button that serves this function) or by
another type of input (e.g., a button on the touch-sensitive display 110
or the user interface 120). In a preferred embodiment, the device 100 may
include a button on user interface 120 that is specifically
designated/preprogrammed for this purpose; such a button may be
designated "View" or another similar label. In some exemplary
embodiments, the user may be required to hold such a button down while
the display 110 is manipulated; in others, the button may be pressed once
to engage the process and a second time to disengage it.

[0017]In step 350, the user indicates a desired manipulation of the data
file 200 on the display 110 by physically moving the device 100. The
motion of the device 100 may be sensed by any of the various mechanisms
known in the art, such as by an embedded motion sensor, an accelerometer,
a sensor external to the device, etc. The processor 140 may then receive
such motion as an input and adjust the appearance of the data file 200 on
the display 110 accordingly. Motion may be, for example, upward or
downward, to either side, or a combination of the two. Such motion in the
plane of the display 110 may typically pan the display of the data file
200 correspondingly. Additionally, motion may be rotational; rotation of
the device 100 about an axis may correspondingly rotate the view of the
data file 200 about the axis of rotation. Further, motion may be
perpendicular to the plane of the display 110; such motion may zoom the
display 110 of the data file 200. Manipulation may be limited to one of
the above types of motion (e.g., only panning) or may include more than
one (e.g., panning and zooming). In some exemplary embodiments, the
device 100 may display a target (e.g., crosshairs) or other cursor in the
display 110 to indicate to the user where the view is centered. In
accordance with the above, in step 360 a further view of the data file
200 is shown on the display 110.

[0018]FIG. 4B illustrates the device 100 showing an exemplary modified
view 410 of the data file 200. As will be apparent, the modified view 410
represents a view of the upper-right portion of the data file 200
including feature 230. Those of skill in the art will understand that
such a modified view may be achieved by moving the device 100 upward and
to the right. Alternately, it will be apparent the user could instead
move the device 100 straight upward and arrive at a modified view showing
the feature 210, or could move the device 100 straight to the right and
arrive at a modified view showing the feature 240.

[0019]In step 370, the user disengages the display manipulation process.
This may be a reversal of the user action taken in step 330. For example,
if the user pressed a button once to engage the process in step 330, the
user may disengage the process by pressing the same button a second time,
or by pressing a different button. If the user pressed and held a button
to engage the process, the user may disengage by releasing the button.
After step 350, motion of the device 100 may no longer be reflected on
the display 110 as described above with reference to step 340.
Subsequently, in step 380, the user may continue using the device 100 as
normally and in accordance with any of the various software applications
that may operate on the device 100. After step 380, the method
terminates.

[0020]The exemplary embodiments may make it simpler and faster for a user
to adjust the view of large data files displayed on a mobile device. This
may be accomplished with one hand, leaving the user's other hand free for
other tasks. Further, only a button may be required to accomplish the
view adjustment, resulting in fewer and simpler external moving parts
than other mechanisms for the same task, such as scroll wheels, track
balls or navigation keys. Additionally, this adjustment may be intuitive
for many users.

[0021]It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing
from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that
the present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.